Boris Johnson denies assuring ambassadors that he supports free movement of people
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has denied that he told ambassadors that he favours the free movement of people as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.
Sky News reported that Johnson had assured several ambassadors that he supported the free movement of people across Europe, straying from the official Conservative party line to curb migration.
The EU has said that the unrestricted movement of people was one of the four freedoms for membership of the bloc, the others being the free movement of goods, capital and services.
An ambassador told Sky News: “He did say he was personally in favour of free movement, as it corresponds to his own beliefs, but said it wasn’t government policy”.
Johnson told another ambassador that he was “personally in favour of it”, but said that “Britain had been more affected by free movement of people than other EU member states”.
His comments put him at odds with Prime Minister Theresa May who has been adamant about reducing net migration since she was home secretary.
In response to the claims, a spokesperson for the foreign secretary said: "Boris said what he has said many times before - he is pro immigration but wants to take back control to limit numbers.
"He did not say he supported freedom of movement and challenges anyone to show proof that he ever said that."
Nick Clegg, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Johnson was “treating voters like fools”.
“If these reports are to be believed, then Boris Johnson, the figurehead of the Brexit campaign, is treating voters like fools. It now appears he never even believed in the central message of the Brexit campaign: to end freedom of movement.”
During the referendum campaign Johnson had said that he was in favour of immigration, but warned on the unrestricted free movement of people across the continent and that it was damaging to Britain's public services.